What are the Possibilities for the What are the Possibilities for the BioeconomyBioeconomy??

Hans P. BlaschekCenter for Advanced BioEnergy Research

University of IllinoisFebruary 12, 2008

OutlineOutline

• The Current Bioenergy Platforms• The New Biology and Biomass

Conversion• Translational Research• Biorefinery of the Future: The

Possibilities

What is a What is a BiorefineryBiorefinery? ? •• A A biorefinerybiorefinery is a facility that integrates biomass conversion is a facility that integrates biomass conversion

processes and equipment to produce fuels, power, and processes and equipment to produce fuels, power, and chemicals from biomass. The chemicals from biomass. The biorefinerybiorefinery concept is analogous concept is analogous to today's petroleum refineries, which produce multiple fuels anto today's petroleum refineries, which produce multiple fuels and d products from petroleum. products from petroleum.

Conceptual Conceptual BiorefineryBiorefinery: NREL: NREL

The The ““sugar platformsugar platform”” is based on is based on biochemical conversion processes and biochemical conversion processes and focuses on the fermentation of sugars focuses on the fermentation of sugars extracted from biomass extracted from biomass feedstocksfeedstocks. .

The The ““syngassyngas platformplatform”” is based on is based on thermochemicalthermochemical conversion processes conversion processes and focuses on the gasification of and focuses on the gasification of biomass biomass feedstocksfeedstocks and coand co--products products from conversion processes. from conversion processes.

Examples of TodayExamples of Today’’s s BiorefineriesBiorefineriesProducts:Products:EthanolEthanolCorn Syrup Corn Syrup Corn Gluten MealCorn Gluten MealCorn OilCorn OilCOCO22

CoCo--Products:Products:DDGSDDGSFiberFiberSteep WaterSteep WaterCorn Gluten FeedCorn Gluten Feed

Where are we today?Where are we today?

Mature technologies:Ethanol from corn starchEthanol from sugar cane

Ethanol Production from CornEthanol Production from Corn

0123456789

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Cellulosic Ethanol2005 EPACT RFS - MinimumU.S. Ethanol Production

•

Actual and Projected U.S. Ethanol Production 1999-2012Billion Gallons of Production Source: December 2005 Ethanol Today Magazine

Source: Stanley R. Bull, NREL

Most of the recent corn Most of the recent corn EtOH EtOH studies studies show a positive net energy balanceshow a positive net energy balance

-120,000

-100,000

-80,000

-60,000

-40,000

-20,000

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Net

Ene

rgy

Val

ue (B

tu/g

allo

n)

Ho

Marland&Turhollow

Pim ente l

Pim ente lKeeney&DeLuca

Lorenz&Morris

Shapouri e t al.

Wang et al.

Agri. Canada

Kim &DaleGraboski

Wang

Pim ente l

Shapouri e t al.

Pim ente l&Patzek

Weinblatt e t al.

NR Canada

Cham bers et al.

Patzek

DelucchiKim &Dale

Wan

g

GRE

ET

w/P

imen

tel

Ass

umpt

ions

Energy balance here is defined as Btu content for a gallon of ethanol minus fossil energy used to produce a gallon of ethanolSource: Michael Wang, Argonne

Comparative results between Comparative results between Ethanol and GasolineEthanol and Gasoline

Source: Michael Wang, Argonne

Why DDGS Utilization?

• Currently, dry-grind ethanol plants produce the majority of fuel ethanol (ca 60%) in the U.S. By-products from dry-grind ethanol include wet and dry distiller’s grains with solubles.

• Producers are expected to create more than 7 million metric tons DDGS in the U.S. and 11 million metric tons DDGS in the EU by the end of this year.

• Some industrial experts are predicting that DDGS production in the U.S. will reach up to 15 million metric tons in few years

• By finding alternative uses for DDGS, ethanol plants can improve their profitability and position themselves to withstandstronger competition (from petrochemical industry)

Composition of DDGS

29.8Ash & others5.3Arabinan

6.9Xylan5.1Starch18.3Cellulose

23.4Total glucan

88.8Dry matter content

Pre-treatment and conversion steps

DDGS1 1

Enhanced DDGS - with reduced fiber, increased fat and increased protein content

Fiber

Xylooligosaccharides, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose,

2

3

Glucose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, mannose, etc

45

EthanolAcetone, butanol, ethanol (ABE)

2

Ethanol from Sugarcane: The Brazilian Ethanol from Sugarcane: The Brazilian ExperienceExperience

BagasseBagasse is burned for energyis burned for energy

CosanCosan

Examples of TodayExamples of Today’’s s BiorefineriesBiorefineriesProducts:Products:EthanolEthanolCorn Syrup Corn Syrup Corn Gluten MealCorn Gluten MealCorn OilCorn OilCOCO22

CoCo--Products:Products:DDGSDDGSFiberFiberSteep WaterSteep WaterCorn Gluten FeedCorn Gluten Feed

The New Biology: An The New Biology: An approachapproach

• “Apollo project” like approach• Utilization of plant and microbial genomic based

approaches leading to translational bioengineering • Focus on agricultural residues and energy-specific

crops ideally suited for the Midwest• Application and integration of systems biology to

overcome technical barriers in production of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels

IGB Biomass Conversion IGB Biomass Conversion ThemeTheme

•• Focus on overcoming limitations to making plant/crop based Focus on overcoming limitations to making plant/crop based resources become a viable alternative to petrochemical based resources become a viable alternative to petrochemical based systems for chemicals and energy systems for chemicals and energy

•• These include: These include: –– Improvements in the efficiency of bioconversion of plant Improvements in the efficiency of bioconversion of plant

fibers to value added products, andfibers to value added products, and–– Economical and efficient extraction of high value productsEconomical and efficient extraction of high value products

Integrated Multidisciplinary Research Integrated Multidisciplinary Research ApproachApproach

–– UpstreamUpstream --–– Plant genetics and genomicsPlant genetics and genomics–– Microbial genomics, biochemistry, ecology, physiology and Microbial genomics, biochemistry, ecology, physiology and enzymology enzymology –– Central Central --–– Functional Genomics and Proteomics of specialist plant cell wallFunctional Genomics and Proteomics of specialist plant cell wall

degrading bacteria degrading bacteria –– Microbial Metabolic engineering of enzymes and fermentation pathMicrobial Metabolic engineering of enzymes and fermentation pathways ways –– Product Separation and Recovery Product Separation and Recovery –– DownstreamDownstream --–– Recovery, Isolation and Purification of targeted Recovery, Isolation and Purification of targeted biomolecules biomolecules –– CommercializationCommercialization --–– Economic Modeling and Systems AnalysisEconomic Modeling and Systems Analysis

Biomass BasicsBiomass Basics•• Today Biomass provides about 3Today Biomass provides about 3--4% of the energy in the U.S.4% of the energy in the U.S.•• According to studies by Shell Petroleum, biomass could satisfy According to studies by Shell Petroleum, biomass could satisfy

between 1/4 and 1/2 of the worldbetween 1/4 and 1/2 of the world’’s demand for energy by the s demand for energy by the middle of the 21st centurymiddle of the 21st century

•• Chemical industry is moving from the petrochemical to bioChemical industry is moving from the petrochemical to bio--based platform based platform -- the the BiorefineryBiorefinery

•• Corn, soybeans (Midwest) Corn, soybeans (Midwest) MiscanthusMiscanthus, , SwitchgrassSwitchgrass, etc. can , etc. can serve as regional plant technology platforms for a new serve as regional plant technology platforms for a new biobased biobased economyeconomy

Required growth of cellulosic Ethanol to supply 30% of U.S. Gasoline demand by 2030

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70B

illio

n G

allo

ns/Y

ear

Grain Ethanol and Conventional Biodiesel

Cellulosic Ethanol and "Green" Diesel

2015 2025 203020202005 2010

3.7

44.8

9.412.8

Source: Stanley R. Bull, NREL

Grain Ethanol and Vegetable Oil Biodiesel

Energy in different fuels10.31

1.36

0.980.81

0.45

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

Cell. EtOH Corn EtOH Coal Gasoline ElectricitySource: Michael Wang, Argonne

Energy Ratio (ER) = energy in fuel/fossil energy input

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Corn Stover Corn Stover —— stalks, leaves, and husks stalks, leaves, and husks —— is a is a major Biomass Program focus as a possible major Biomass Program focus as a possible

feedstockfeedstockIt is very large in volume It is very large in volume —— roughly equivalent to roughly equivalent to corn grain, our largest corn grain, our largest crop; and it is already crop; and it is already there, largely unused, sothere, largely unused, sorequires little additional requires little additional investment or resources investment or resources to produce it.to produce it.

90 M tons of fermentable 90 M tons of fermentable sugars available forsugars available forconversion to liquid conversion to liquid fuels & chemicalsfuels & chemicals

Development of New Plant Biomass SourcesDevelopment of New Plant Biomass Sources

•• Exploit Maize Exploit Maize germplasm germplasm diversitydiversitywith respect to cell wall development and with respect to cell wall development and compositioncomposition

•• Screen UIUC maize inbred and Screen UIUC maize inbred and germplasm germplasm collection collection for cell wall characteristics impacting microbial for cell wall characteristics impacting microbial fermentations (e.g. lignin content)fermentations (e.g. lignin content)

•• Identify and characterize genes involved in Identify and characterize genes involved in inheritance of characteristics which allow for inheritance of characteristics which allow for improved fermentationimproved fermentation

•• Examine Examine Miscanthus giganteaMiscanthus gigantea (cold(cold--tolerant fasttolerant fast--growth C4 grass, related to sugar cane)growth C4 grass, related to sugar cane)

•• Examine Tropical Maize as a substrateExamine Tropical Maize as a substrate

UIUC maintains ~85% of the entire genetic diversity UIUC maintains ~85% of the entire genetic diversity of the genus of the genus Zea maysZea mays

Tropical MaizeTropical Maize

Can grow in Can grow in temperate temperate

regionsregions

Low Low Nitrogen Nitrogen

inputinput

Contains Contains sucrose, sucrose, glucose glucose

and and fructosefructose

Development of New Biomass SourcesDevelopment of New Biomass Sources

•• Modify cell wall Modify cell wall component genescomponent genes

•• Examine Examine Miscanthus Miscanthus giganteagigantea (cold(cold--tolerant tolerant fastfast--growth C4 grass, growth C4 grass, related to sugar cane)related to sugar cane)

WHY DOES PRODUCTIVITY MATTER?

Source: Heaton, Dohleman & Long (GCB submitted)

9.326.91,300.413.0Miscanthus

22.062.9556.75.6Switchgrass

72.5206.8169.21.7LIHD

14.842.0783.87.8Corn Total

37.2106.0329.63.0Corn stover

24.469.6454.34.5Corn grain

% 2006 harvested

US cropland

Million acres needed for 35 billion gallons

of ethanolEthanol

(gal/acre)

Harvestable Biomass (t/acre)Feedstock

Bioenergy Bioenergy Value ChainValue Chain

GermplasmGermplasm CultivationCultivation Harvest/TransportHarvest/Transport ProcessingProcessing BiofuelBiofuel

Crop ScientistsCrop ScientistsPlant BreedersPlant BreedersPlant GeneticsPlant Genetics

FarmersFarmersAgronomistsAgronomistsPlant PathologistsPlant PathologistsEcologistsEcologistsSoil ScientistsSoil Scientists

EngineersEngineersEconomistsEconomists

MicrobiologistsMicrobiologistsEngineersEngineersMolecular BiologistsMolecular Biologists

EngineersEngineersChemistsChemists

Horizontal MatrixHorizontal Matrix

Feedstock Deconstruction DesignStoverMiscanthusSwitchgrassDDGS

AnaerobesThermophiles

YeastClostridiaE. coli

Sunlight Biomass Monomers Fuels

Roadmap and Bottlenecks to Roadmap and Bottlenecks to Biofuel Biofuel ProductionProduction

Feedstockdevelopment

Deconstruction(inhibitors produced)

Biofuelproduction

SubSub--network around network around CESA10CESA10 –– involvedinvolvedin plant cell wall biosynthesisin plant cell wall biosynthesis

Description• Includes several known

genes in CW synthesis

• Includes functionally unknown genes with ‘relevant’ domainstructure

• includes un-characterizedsignaling and transcriptioncomponents

• Provides hypotheses

Tasks• Check genes/expression

in maize, Miscanthus,switchgrass

• Use transgenics in Miscanthus and transgenics, and/ormarker-assisted breedingin maize

DescriptionDescription• Includes several knownIncludes several known

genes in CW synthesisgenes in CW synthesis

•• Includes functionally Includes functionally unknown genes with unknown genes with ‘‘relevantrelevant’’ domaindomainstructurestructure

•• includes unincludes un--characterizedcharacterizedsignaling and transcriptionsignaling and transcriptioncomponentscomponents

•• Provides hypothesesProvides hypotheses

TasksTasks• Check genes/expressionCheck genes/expression

in maize, in maize, MiscanthusMiscanthus,,switchgrassswitchgrass

•• Use transgenics in Miscanthus and transgenics, and/ormarker-assisted breedingin maize

Sources of fiberSources of fiber--degrading degrading enzymes:enzymes:

Genomes of specialist fiber degraders:Genomes of specialist fiber degraders:Fibrobacter succinogenes Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 (>100 genes)S85 (>100 genes)Ruminococcus flavefaciens Ruminococcus flavefaciens FDFD--11Ruminococcus albusRuminococcus albus 88Prevotella ruminicolaPrevotella ruminicola

Enzymes of interest:Enzymes of interest:Xylanases/CellulasesXylanases/CellulasesArabinofuranosidasesArabinofuranosidasesFerulic Ferulic acid acid esterasesesterasesProteasesProteases

Genomic and Genomic and Metagenomic Metagenomic Approaches for Identifying Candidate Genes Approaches for Identifying Candidate Genes (Enzymes) for Enhanced Plant Cell Wall Hydrolysis(Enzymes) for Enhanced Plant Cell Wall Hydrolysis

MetagenomicMetagenomic ApproachApproachGenomic ApproachGenomic Approach

R. flavefaciens FD-1Genome SequencingGenome Sequencing

MicroarrayMicroarray DevelopmentDevelopment

Expression ProfilingExpression Profiling

1 genome minus 1 genome equals 1/10 of a genome

targets

sequence informationabout organisms

unique to a community

Tester DNA

Genomic DNA From Fiber Associated

Bacteria

Driver DNA Genomic DNA From Different Planktonic Rumen Bacterial

Samples

Suppressive Subtractive Hybridization

Complex set of probes (fragments) unique to

Driver DNA

Fosmid or BAC Libraries

Southern Blot

Suppressive Subtractive

Hybridization

Candidate Genes (Enzymes) for Enhanced Fiber DegradationCandidate Genes (Enzymes) for Enhanced Fiber Degradation

Transcriptional analysisTranscriptional analysis

Quantification of Quantification of gene expression gene expression on arrayson arrays

Reverse Reverse transcriptiontranscription

Dye Dye labellinglabelling

RNA RNA extractionextraction

ClostridialClostridialcultureculture

cDNAscDNAs LabelledLabelled probesprobesClostridialClostridial RNAsRNAs

Long Long oligosoligos Printed arraysPrinted arrays

HybridizationHybridizationImmobilization Immobilization on glass slideson glass slides

Fluorescence Fluorescence image image scanningscanning

Genomic Genomic informationinformation Hybridized slidesHybridized slides

WildWild--typetype BA101BA101

Biological Conversion

• Fermentation - utilization of 5-carbon sugars• Examples:

– Zymomonas mobilis engineered to ferment xylose and arabinose,

– S. cerevisiae strains engineered to ferment arabinose,

– Solventogenic clostridia with abilityto simultaneously saccharify and ferment.

BioButanolBioButanol: A Second Generation Liquid Fuel: A Second Generation Liquid Fuel••Higher energy content than ethanolHigher energy content than ethanol

••Can be stored under humid conditions unlike ethanolCan be stored under humid conditions unlike ethanol--lack of solubility with water (higher flash point and lower vapolack of solubility with water (higher flash point and lower vapor r pressure)pressure)

••Can be used in internal combustion and diesel engines; less Can be used in internal combustion and diesel engines; less corrosivecorrosive

••Can be shipped through existing pipelinesCan be shipped through existing pipelines

••Replacement for gasoline or as a chemicalReplacement for gasoline or as a chemical

UI Integrated UI Integrated Bioprocessing Bioprocessing Research Laboratory Research Laboratory

Vision: IBRLVision: IBRL• Facility focused on the chemical, physical and

biological conversion of renewable feedstocks to biofuels and other value-added products.

• Pilot scale operations - fractionation, separations, recovery, processing and fermentation.

Biorefinery Biorefinery Development Development ActivitiesActivities

•• Dupont & BP Dupont & BP -- to commercialize bioto commercialize bio--butanolbutanol, an advanced 4 , an advanced 4 carbon carbon biofuelbiofuel

•• Dupont Dupont -- starch and starch and lignocelluselignocelluse conversion to 1,3 conversion to 1,3 propanediolpropanediolas a polymer platformas a polymer platform

•• CargillCargill--Dow Dow -- build pilot scale build pilot scale biorefinerybiorefinery to produce to produce polylactidepolylactide(PLA) polymers and ethanol from grain(PLA) polymers and ethanol from grain

•• NCGANCGA--ADM ADM -- separation and pilot scale testing of corn fiber as separation and pilot scale testing of corn fiber as substratesubstrate

•• IogenIogen -- in partnership with Shell producing ethanol from in partnership with Shell producing ethanol from cellulosecellulose

ConversionProcesses

– Trees – Grasses– Agricultural Crops– Agricultural Residues– Animal Wastes– Municipal Solid Waste

USESFuels:– Ethanol– Renewable Diesel

Power:– Electricity– Heat

Chemicals– Plastics– Solvents– Chemical Intermediates– Phenolics– Adhesives– Furfural– Fatty acids– Acetic Acid– Carbon black– Paints– Dyes, Pigments, and Ink– Detergents– Lubricants– Etc.

Food and Feed and Fiber

BiomassFeedstock

The New Bio-Industry

Source: Stanley R. Bull, NREL

- Enzymatic Fermentation- Gas/liquid Fermentation- Acid Hydrolysis/ Ferm

CABERCABER

Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research34 Animal Sciences Lab1207 West Gregory Drive, MC 630Urbana, IL 61801phone: 217-244-9271, fax: 217-244-9275

http://www.bioenergy.uiuc.edu/